CHITTAGONG: The construction of the much-awaited 3.5 km main tunnel under the River Karnaphuli will begin on February 24 (Sunday).

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the tunnel boring work under the Karnaphuli River on the day. 

Karnaphuli Tunnel Project Director Harunur Rashid Chowdhury confirmed the matter to Banglanews.

He said consent from Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has already been received in this regard. Engineers concerned of the project, including Bridges Division Secretary, have already inspected the project area. 

A tunnel boring machine (TBM), also known as a "mole", is a machine used to excavate tunnels with a circular cross section through a variety of soil and rock strata. 

Harunur Rashid Chowdhury said around 30 percent overall progress of Karnaphuli tunnel construction under the government to government (G2G) project has already been done.

The tunnel will connect the Chittagong-Cox's Bazar Highway with the proposed Asian Highway.

A total of two tubes would be constructed. The tunnel will pass through the river close to Navy College on one side and Korean Export Processing Zone and Karnaphuli Fertiliser Company on the other.

According to the project officials, the 2-tube tunnel will be 3.4 km with around 5.35 km approach road alongside 727 metres of bridges linking the main city, port and western side of the river. The tunnel will connect Anwara upazila to Chittagong city.

In November, 2017, the government approved the project for the construction of tunnel under the Karnaphuli river costing Tk 8,466.64 crore. Of the amount, China will provide Tk 4,799 crore or $705 million as a project loan, while the Bangladesh government will give the rest.

During the approval of the project the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council set a five-year deadline for the completion of the tunnel. As per the timeframe, the tunnel would be completed by December 2022.

BDST: 1814 HRS, FEB 7, 2019
RS/SMS